City of Courts #3, titled “Beach Blanket Justice,” continues the twisted travelogue. If you’ve enjoyed the past adventures of Dredd out on the West Coast, then you’ll like Dredd taking on a giant shrimp. Fish out of water plot, indeed. Dredd does some detective work, but a new mythical figure is discussed within the issue. Mega-City Two may be full of sunshine and lax Judges, but the vapid idiots trying to get their 15 minutes of fame makes me uneasy. Yes, LA is shallow. I get it. Continue reading “Judge Dredd: Mega City Two: City of Courts #3 Review Plus Complete Cam Kennedy Volume 2 Preview”

In the few years I’ve acquainted myself with the 2000 AD pantheon, Rogue Trooper is my least read feature. There hasn’t been a Rogue Trooper story in the pages of 2000 AD since a “What If” tale in 2012. The character hasn’t been forgotten, though. Matthew Sprange of Mongoose Publishing ran a successful Kickstarter campaign for a Rogue Trooper miniatures game last year.

Rogue Trooper is one of several Genetic Infantrymen, the ultimate fighting force created to turn the tide for the Southers in the war against the Norts. GIs are gifted with several advantages over humans including the ability to freely move about in the toxic atmosphere of Nu-Earth. However, an incident in the Quartz Zone left Rogue the only survivor. Rogue’s only company are his fallen comrades-turned-chips, Gunnar, Helm, and Bagman. Take a wild guess at where they’re implanted.

From what little I’ve seen of Rogue Trooper, it’s awesome. BBC posted the first Rogue Trooper story from 1981, written by Gerry Finley-Day and drawn by Dave Gibbons. It’s an efficient seven pages getting over the premise of Rogue Trooper and his struggle thanks to Finley-Day’s plotting. Gibbons illustrates some memorable images without going completely over the top. How does Brian Ruckley and Alberto Ponticelli’s version compare? Continue reading “Rogue Trooper IDW #1 Review”

Last month on City of Courts, Judge Joseph Dredd visits the West Coast, sees some scenery, and experience West Coast law, order, and fashion. Now Dredd goes undercover and delve into gang life as “The Man,” an artist and survivor of the Cursed Earth. As “The Man,” Dredd has a documentary crew following his every move. No longer a hard-working man merely cleaning up scum, Dredd poses as a BIG STAR!

Douglas Wolk, one of the few comics critics people have likely heard of, writes his first comic book series for IDW. Judge Dredd, a favorite character of his, makes his presence on the West Coast and discovers his brutal approach to justice makes him a square peg. “Judge Dredd: Mega-City Two: City of Courts” #1 is illustrated by Ulises Farinas, who impressed some comics readers with Dark Horse’s Gamma and whose artwork I almost mistaken for Brandon Graham.

“City of Courts” #1’s amusing cover is somewhat grittier than the interior art. Dredd stands under a freeway ramp in front of two vehicles, one of which is a Lawmaster. Holding a bizarre gun with a smiley bear face, Dredd gives a growling face to us as if he misses his Lawgiver and wants to go back to Mega-City One.

The Cover

This issue of Judge Dredd Megazine shows private investigator Galen DeMarco in peril with the freaky Claude on the attack. “Claude Reigns” is a cute pun, but readers of DeMarco P.I. will discover how capable and charming DeMarco will be against “the mutant that will not die.”

Here comes the latest creator-owned story coming in the pages of Megazine #340, available 18 September. It’s coming from the same creative team bringing us one-third of the Trifecta saga, Low Life’sRob Williams and Matt “D’Israeli” Brooker (They did the stuff with Dirty Frank).

Ordinary is the rare superhero story done for either 2000 AD or Judge Dredd Megazine. The press release touts that “creators publishing stories in the Megazine’s creator-owned slot receive both a page rate AND full control of their property.” That may be enticing for UK-based comics creators. What follows is the “Ordinary” plot description from the press release: Continue reading “Judge Dredd Megazine #340 Gets “Ordinary””

IDW, in their quest to maximize the Mars Attacks license, has the Martians visit Mega-City One. Writer Al Ewing and artist John McCrea are up to the task. The opening issue sets up a fine Dredd adventure, but how much will Mars Attacks spice things up? Continue reading “Mars Attacks-Judge Dredd #1 Review”